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Rock Art Brewery: Limited Access

Rock Art Brewery: Limited Access

Hops: Galaxy

ABV: 7.5%

IBU: 75

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 3.95/5

If the windowsill is rockin’ don’t bother knockin’. Just put a delicious double IPA from Rock Art Brewery on it

Did you ever hear about the time a tiny Vermont micro-bewery took on one of the titans of the energy drink industry and lived to tell the tale? In September of 2009, Hansen Natural (since renamed Monster Beverage Corporation) sent the Rock Art Brewery a cease and desist order. Why? Because the Vermont-based brewery had a barley wine named the Vermonster. According to Hansen Natural, that name was encroaching on the Monster Energy Drink brand. Yep. Apparently, no other drinks could have the word “monster” in their name. Rather than give in, Rock Art Brewery fought back, and so did many local Vermont stores, who boycotted Hansen products in solidarity. The boycott, and the bad PR caused by the entire affair, caused Hansen to drop the cease and desist order. Flawless victory. Rock Art still makes the Vermonster today, and Monster is now the official drink of NASCAR, so I guess everybody won in the end, but the little guy took a stand, and that’s what’s important.

As for the Limited Access double IPA, I can’t recommend it enough. At 7.5% alcohol, it’s a bit of a kick in the pants, but it’s citrusy, tropical, refreshing and delicious with a well-balanced finish that will leave you wanting another.

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Magic Hat Brewing Company: Electric Peel

Magic Hat Brewing Company: Electric Peel

Hops: Apollo, Centennial, Chinook

Malts: Pale, Carapils

ABV: 6.0%

IBU: 65

Availability: Year-round

@untappd says: 3.4/5

Sometimes, even my Windowsill swings and misses.

Let me first say that Magic Hat Brewing Company is an excellent brewery. Since 1994, the Vermont-based brewery has been making really good, very eclectic beers and, as they say, putting a performance into every bottle. Their beers are bold, experimental and mostly delicious. Unfortunately, the Electric Peel Grapefruit IPA was a miss for me. I think the issue is that I always think I’m going to like grapefruit, so I always buy it, but I never actually enjoy it.

Whether it’s in a beer, or the actual fruit itself, it always leaves me disappointed. The bitterness of the Electric Peel’s grapefruit, mixed with the bitterness of its hops, was just not my cup of tea. I know the next one I try from Magic Hat will be a hit, but I can’t recommend this one.

Check this one out on Instagram, now!